Li Lanzhen entrusted Dunzi with the responsibility of arranging accommodations for these eleven households and the subsequent agricultural work.
She prepared to return with eight maids, servants, a waiter, and two pageboys.
Sanwang's children told her that they would stay here tonight to keep Dunzi company, settle things here, and then return to Peach Blossom Spring the next morning.
Li Lanzhen knew in her heart that Sanwang and his children were afraid of these eleven households. They were numerous and powerful, and the servants were arrogant and domineering, and they did not obey Dunzi's discipline.
So I want to stay and help him make the arrangements before leaving.
She smiled and agreed. Sanwang and his friends were always united, helping and loving each other, and closer than any other family.
The two pageboys were being held back by their parents, who were giving them countless instructions and admonitions. They were standing far away, and it was unclear what they were saying.
But all I can say is that they should follow Han Mingxiang closely, do their jobs well, and perform their duties diligently.
One of the young pageboys, 13 years old, was named Xizi, the grandson of the old man with the withered tree.
The old man took Xizi's hand and came to Li Lianzhen.
Just as he was about to kneel down and kowtow, Li Lanzhen stopped him.
"Alright, stop kneeling. This is your grandson, isn't he?"
"Yes, yes! This is my grandson, Xizi, who is 13 years old."
"I served as a page in my previous household and know some characters. I've entrusted you with my instruction, Madam. This old servant thanks you greatly."
Li Lanzhen observed that although Xizi was thin, he had a round head, big eyes, thick black eyebrows, a straight nose, a thick lower lip, and a thin upper lip, making him a typical underbite.
She chuckled to herself, thinking that once the boy was well-fed and clothed, and his body became stronger, he would be quite endearing.
"Xizi, would you be willing to be the Third Young Master's page?"
"willing!"
As soon as Li Lanzhen finished speaking, she received two resounding words.
She reached out and patted his round head.
"Alright, if you're willing, then follow your young master closely and learn more characters when you have free time."
At that moment, another child arrived.
A young man in his early twenties led him over by the hand.
The second brother just introduced the child as Erwa, whose parents have passed away and who lives with his older brother, sister-in-law, and nephew.
Fortunately, his elder brother and sister-in-law treated him like their own child and didn't let him suffer much.
When the young man approached Li Lanzhen, he tried to kneel down to pay his respects, but she stopped him first.
"Alright, stop kneeling. This is your younger brother, Erwa, right? How old is he?"
Erwa answered loudly, "Replying to Madam, my name is Erwa, and I am 12 years old this year. I used to serve as a page for the young master in the original mansion. I have learned to read for a few days, and I will serve the third young master well."
Li Lanzhen noticed that they all knew Han Mingxiang was the third son in his family and called him Third Young Master, which was probably because Manager Hua had arranged for the brokerage to train him beforehand.
"Alright, Erwa, are you willing to be the Third Young Master's page?"
"willing!"
That was still a resounding answer.
Erwa's older brother stood to the side, rubbing his hands together, smiling sheepishly and bending slightly over.
"Madam, Erwa is with you now, so please train him well. He will do things diligently."
Seeing their worried expressions, Li Lanzhen spoke up.
"Alright, you can all go do your own things. I'll take care of these two children."
Don't worry, we come from farming families ourselves, we won't mistreat the children.
After saying that, he called to the maids and servants, "Let's go."
After returning to Peach Blossom Spring, it was time for lunch, so Li Lanzhen led them directly to the dining hall.
Except for the waiter, who always smiled and nodded to everyone he met.
The others simply followed silently behind Lanzhen.
Li Lanzhen arranged for them to sit at a table.
Today at noon, we had knife-cut noodles made with cornmeal, wheat flour, and black flour in a 5:3:2 ratio.
Make the dough a little firmer, then cut it into noodles about one finger long. After the water boils, put the noodles in, stir them a couple of times, and then take them out and rinse them with cold water.
The side dishes for the noodles are scrambled eggs with chives, pork cracklings stir-fried with tomato sauce, a bowl of chili oil, and a bowl of pickled vegetable bits.
If you like spicy food, scoop more chili sauce onto the noodles, then pour on tomato sauce, add a spoonful of pickled vegetables, and mix in a couple of bites of scrambled eggs with chives.
I picked up a mouthful of noodles mixed with various vegetables, slurped it up, and it was delicious!
Li Lianzhen looked up and glanced at the maids, servants, and two pageboys.
The waiter sat at the table where Han Mingjiang and his group were.
Unsurprisingly, shock was seen in their eyes.
Indeed, these maids, servants, and two pageboys didn't live this well even in their former master's house!
Moreover, she was arranged to sit at the same table as her master.
Although they sat down, they dared not look around.
But the ears are listening to people talking.
Everyone was all smiles, greeting each other and talking about the work they had done that morning.
There were no scoldings, no ridicule, and no inexplicable sounds of bowls being smashed or tables being slammed.
They finished their bowl of rice without any worries.
If they weren't full, they could have more noodles; both pageboys were about twelve or thirteen years old.
Li Lanzhen thought that the two of them must not have eaten enough.
Let them go to the table at the entrance of the dining room and serve themselves the noodles from the bowls there.
On a large table in front of the dining room, there was a bowl of cooked noodles.
If you want more noodles, just go over and scoop them into your own bowl with a spoon.
The two children were indeed not full, mainly because the food was too delicious.
The two of them sat there for a while, their faces flushed and their expressions uneasy.
They saw several children, some about their age and others younger, carrying bowls to the large noodle basin at the entrance of the dining room to get more rice.
Hesitantly, he stood up and went there.
When they came back and sat down with a bowl of noodles that was more than half full.
They all breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Lanzhen knew that no matter what she said, they still had their own principles.
Being a slave for too long breeds servility.
It can't be changed overnight, let's take it slowly. Although I don't mistreat my servants, I can't let them develop a habit of not knowing the rules.
After the meal, the waiter was about to take the boat back.
Li Lanzhen handed him a small bundle.
"Here you go, this is an outfit and shoes that your aunt made for you."
Then gently pat the small bundle and whisper it to him.
"Auntie has packed some dried meat for you here. Eat one whenever you feel like it."
The waiter was in tears, clutching his small bundle tightly.
Looking at Li Lanzhen, her lips trembled as she said, "Thank you, Auntie!"
This is the second person who has been kind to him since he became an orphan.
Li Lanzhen patted his head and gave him another ten taels of silver.
"Take this and wait until the good news from the scientific expedition comes out."
The yamen runners will be delivering the good news up to the ninth floor of the four-sided building. Could you please help your aunt by arranging things for them?
The waiter took the purse and smiled even more broadly.
"Okay, Auntie, I will definitely take care of it for you."
"Once I've dismissed the messenger who came to deliver the good news, I'll take a boat to tell you."
"Okay, thank you!"
Back then, Manager Hua told Han Ming and the others who participated in the scientific expedition that when filling in their addresses, they all filled in Sifang Restaurant.
Li Lanzhen had actually struggled with this decision for a long time.
Their household registration is in Lishu Village, so it's appropriate to fill in Lishu Village as their address. However, the mountains are high and the roads are long, making travel difficult. Most importantly, the existence of Peach Blossom Spring cannot be revealed at present.
Filling in the Peach Blossom Spring is even more impossible.
Finally, Manager Hua said to fill in the address as Sifang Restaurant.
They stayed there for five days, so filling out that form is fine.
Students from other places usually fill in the address of the restaurant where they participated in the scientific expedition.
As for their birthplace, the local county government would also send a congratulatory message to their hometown after receiving the news.
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